Orlanthi sexuality is relatively open and unbound by legal sanction, divorce is common and available to both parties (and *doesn't* require clan intervention), but marriage is sanctified by divine oath, and adultery is not only illegal but sometimes *dangerous*. (KOS 243, TR 230). It can also cripple a bloodline economically. If there's any doubt about commitment, you should take a year marriage. You don't find many Niskisii in positions of responsibility.
Heort's Law states that ' Sex is easy. Marriage is hard, and the Gods bless the sworn bond.'
Remember that in Orlanthi society, as in most tribal societies, marriage is not primarily a union of two individuals but a contract between two corporate groups - bloodlines - relating to goods, dwelling place, labour, and offspring. Bloodlines make considerable investment in dowry and brideprice. Great effort is made in matchmaking.
to soak up some of this background, check out 'Courtships, Contests and Cattle' at Questlines:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/marriage.html
On the most basic level, adultery is hearth-breaking. Andrin's Law (ST 162) states that:
'If a man lay with one not his wife, or a woman lay with one not her husband, or if one married lays with a thrall, or visits a body priestess without good cause, then three cows each occurrence.'
That's 'each occurrence'. Given that the weregild for *killing* a cottar is ten cows, you can see that if the adultery involves more a casual liaison, it gets very expensive indeed. A long term affair, if brought before the courts, can shame a bloodline and cripple it financially.
On top of this, the bloodlines can demand return of dowry, brideprice etc, and compensation for disruption to the hearth and crops if the marriage dissolves. So adultery can cripple a bloodline economically, quite apart from any emotional damage.
Cheers
John
> I can't believe adultery is that badly regarded - these people are
> human after all. I think the real objection is to kinstrife which
> adultery tends to cause. If all parties are content with the situation
> then no one else makes a fuss - it's their affair. Only if one of
> the parties complains or threatens violence does the clan get involved
> and then the middle party will get told to make up their mind - divorce
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